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Rangers acquire LHP Kelvin De La Cruz from Cleveland

Press Release |

The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has acquired left-handed pitcher Kelvin De La Cruz (#71) from Cleveland in exchange for cash considerations.

De La Cruz, 23, went 5-6 with a 4.19 ERA (40 ER/86.0 IP) in 23 games/16 starts for Akron (AA) in 2011, holding left-handed batters to a .143 (13-91) average. He has been primarily a starter throughout his professional career, although he made 6 of his 12 pro relief appearances at the end of last season. Still seeking his first action above Double-A, he has averaged 8.9 strikeouts per 9 innings and 0.6 home runs allowed per 9 innings in his career. He also made one appearance for Triple-A Columbus in the International League playoffs last year and had 6 games with the Cibao Eagles in the Dominican Winter League.

De La Cruz was designated for assignment by Cleveland on February 13 and goes on the Rangers’ big league roster. For his career, he is 32-28 with a 4.21 ERA (213 ER/455.1 IP) in 105 games/93 starts since signing with Cleveland as a free agent on December 4, 2004.

With this trade, the Rangers now have 59 players in the club’s major league spring training camp: a full 40-man roster and 19 non-roster invitees.

MAJEWSKI RE-SIGNS: The Rangers have re-signed outfielder Val Majewski (my-ESS-kee) to a minor league contract. Majewski will be in minor league camp this spring. The 30-year-old was originally signed by Texas on July 26, 2011, batting .333 (45-135) with 5 home runs and 33 RBI in 35 games for Round Rock (AAA) the rest of the year. He was also a member of the Express during the 2008 season while in the Houston Astros organization. Originally a third round selection by Baltimore in the 2002 June draft out of Rutgers University, he played 9 games with the Orioles in 2004, his only big league action to date. He started four straight seasons in the independent Atlantic League before signing mid-season with Houston (2008), LA of Anaheim (2009), Oakland (2010), and Texas (2011). He hit .317 with 11 home runs, 48 RBI and 63 runs scored in 71 games with York last season, where he was an Atlantic League Midseason All-Star.